Experimental Study of Physical, Mechanical and Morphological Properties of Natural Fibre (Grewia Optiva) Reinforced Hybrid Composite

ABSTRACT Natural composite materials are of interest to researchers because of their low density, an exceptionally high specific mechanical strength, and the fact that they are generally available, renewable, degradable, and environmentally friendly. Reinforcement using natural cellulose fibers in a matrix combines these materials together. In the present study, samples were prepared using fibers treated with sodium hydroxide at different volume percentages, while carbon fiber and epoxy were used as fillers for the matrix prepared by the hand lay-up method. The mechanical properties being investigated include tensile strength, impact strength, water absorption, and SEM for hybrid natural fiber composites. The effect of fiber surface treatment at varied volume percentages of NaOH was noticed for the different orientations of fiber in the hybrid composite. Surface treatment of the fiber improved tensile strength compared with the pure epoxy maximum. Mechanical properties exhibited higher values with 6% NaOH-treated fiber, and on further increase in the volume percentage of NaOH, the values of mechanical properties decreased. The water absorption tests carried out on the composite exhibit very low absorption of water.